3 weeks old questions about FLEAS! and parvo vaccinations

I Recieved two 3 week old puppies from a Lady this evening after their mother was killed by the same Ladys pit bull.

I went and picked the wee ones up ASAP and was shocked to see thier environment they were outside in the wun in a rusty old cage with a very dirty blanket as bedding, The lady said they were born there and have been there since. I am really concerned about Parvo b/c she did have other dogs and since she is out in the woods the can at anytime come in contact with coons or skunks that carry parvo or even distemper. My question is how soon can I vaccinate them? They are no longer under the protection of there mothers milk. And I just dont want them to get sick

ALSO They are INFESTED with fleas. Anyone have something that would be safe for a three week old?

TY in advance!

Mandie

Oh, wow. That is heartbreaking. I hope that some of the breeders here can help.

I know that someone said earlier that you can bathe puppies in Dawn to get rid of fleas. But that wasn't 3 week old puppies.

Sorry I can't really help, but this made me sad and mad so I had to post anyway.

I know it just made me so mad!

My cousin was doing yard work for her, And he heard a commotion and the pit was trying to get in the cage with the pup and the mother was freaking and The pit bul grabbed her. And my cousin tried and tried (Lady yelling at hom to stop the pitbull) to get his jaws off her throat but just couldnt, and when the momma dog was dead the pitbull turned on my cousin. Thankfully he is ok. My cousin called me b/c the lady didnt have time to care for them. and in my mind it wa sonly a matter of time before they were killed as well.

Mandie

You can use dawn on the puppies lather them up and let it sit for a minute or two(try and get the unconcentrated version or thing out the other stuff). That was what I have always been told with foster cases that were that young. Also, I would contact your vet about what to do with the vacinations....

ETA Make sure they are kept super warm after their bath so that they dont get chilled.

First of all, first shots are at 6 weeks. Go ahead and deworm now also. As far as the fleas, there are two different ways to help. You can soak a hand towel in flea spray and wrap all of the pup but the nose in like a swaddle, and hold it that way for a couple of minutes or so. That will suffocate the fleas. Or you can do the same with the towel and just wipe a LIGHT coat of the spray on them. I have done both in the past when I worked for a vet. Then at 4 weeks you can give capstar to keep them controlled.

When I worked at the shelter, we always used Dawn on puppies that young. Then we followed up with a good oatmeal bath to get some oils back into their poor skin.
Good luck with the babies!

I know normally you woud vaccinate at 6 weeks, it was just the complications of the situation that had me worried, I was only asking here last night b/c I couldnt get ahold of my vet til this morning. And I wanted to get as much info Asap.

Both Pups are well and have taken well to bottle feeding. My vet gave me some Flea madication that is ok for younger puppies.

I already had the worming under control

Mandie

What medication did he give you? I had always thought you couldn't give any flea meds to a pup that young, it'd be nice to know if there actually is something you can do.

I'd like to know what he gave also.

I can't remember what we used on the neighbor's kittens but there is something you can use on very young animals. These kittens had them so bad that when we applied the stuff to a washcloth and wrapped it around them..the fleas ran to the face (the only place it wasn't used) and completely covered it. IT was ghastly.

Its called "Ovotrol"
Kittens and puppies under 3 pounds you do as SMkie said and spray a towel and wrap the baby up in it.

I had it cleared by three different vet offices just to be safe.

Both pups are doing well.

Mandie

I think that's just a pyrethrin-based spray ... been around for years.

I had nightmares for a week afterwards on those kittens. THere were so many that when the kittens opened their mouth the swarming fleas fell in. You couldn't even see their face. THey were lucky to be alive at all. I had to mop them off with another cloth that didn't have the stuff on it. Made my skin crawl. I helped the neighbor bomb her home, change the bedding and that was the end of that.

I generally prefer just to use soap and water on babies. Change the bedding..treat the area with borax and work it in good if there is carpet with a broom. BUt these were so bad there just wasn't any other way.

I share your thoughts. The first thing we did with these babies is bath them with Dawn, But even then well we were drying them we could see them swarming in their ears and see them in their fur. We used a flea comb and tried to get as many as we could off.

Then I posted here b/c it was just SO horrible.

So far I havent seen any fleas on them since we used the ovitrol.

Today we bombed our house..burned their beddng. (extreme but best way) *crosses fingures! THANKFULLY our dogs are utd with Frontline. :hail: ty frontline.

And I have to keep capstar on hand just b/c it works with some of my rehabs and when I need it I have ot have it. So when they turn 4 weeks they will have that.


Mandie

How awful! How can someone be so uncaring and lazy as that woman. What a horror story about these pups' Mom. How very sad.

That sounds like an extreme infestation of fleas. Fleas can kill dogs. I'm so very glad you saved them and got them fixed up. You are an angel. I hope they continue to thrive and get some good forever homes when the time comes. Kudos Mandie!